Beavers Blast Ladybugs in Game One of Softball Sweep

Cora's Bistro has its eyes on another deep playoff run this summer in Wayne County Women's Softball League action...as evidenced by a twinbill sweep of Lauersen's.

Kevin Edwards

On the heels of another successful season, Cora’s Bistro stumbled a bit out of the gate
this summer in Wayne County Women’s Softball League action.

Last year, the Beavers reeled off 10 consecutive wins en route to the regular season title. The Hawley-based ballclub also authored a pair of silver medal finishes in the Waymart Benefit Tournament and the league tourney.

Weather wreaked havoc on Cora’s at the start of the 2012 campaign as three of the team’s first four games were impacted by rain. However, the Beavers are back on track now after sweeping a rare Monday night doubleheader.

Led by longtime player/coach Stacy Grund, Cora’s defeated Lauersen’s 13-2 in the opener and 3-1 in the nightcap. Both games were played in Bingham Park.

With these wins, the Beavers improved their regular season record to 5-2.

“If Mother Nature continues to cooperate, we should be in good shape,” Stacy told The News Eagle. “It’s really hard to build any kind of momentum when you only play once or twice a week and those games keep getting postponed. Hopefully, the nice weather is here to stay.”

Next up for Cora’s is a Monday night encounter with The Crossroads, one of the league’s perennial powerhouses.

Double Dip
Cora’s leapt out to a big lead against Lauersen’s in Game One.

The Beavers roughed up Ladybugs’ starter Jaclyn Ellefsen for seven runs, then never looked back en route to a 13-2 triumph.

Brighid Bauer did the majority of the damage in this one. Cora’s veteran slugger banged out three hits from her lead-off spot. Bauer also scored a run and drove in two with a second inning triple.

Sue Zieres was the beneficiary of this early uprising. The Beavers starting pitcher was nicked for two runs in the first, but then worked four scoreless frames. Zieres also helped out at the plate, lashing three doubles in three at-bats.

Courtney Roche and Stacey Hughes also contributed to the cause. Roche a Honesdale graduate who played collegiately this spring, singled, doubled and tallied twice. Hughes, who patrols centerfield, lashed two singles and scored two runs.

Game Two was a much closer affair...a contest dominated by power pitchers on
each side.

Megan Fuller got the call for Cora’s and simply overpowered Ladybug batters. The flame-throwing righty struck out six in five innings en route to the mound decision.

She was opposed by Lauersen’s ace Tiffany Hoffman. Another fireballing right hander, Hoffman scattered eight hits, fanned two and walked a pair in her five frames.

Bauer once again provided the offensive muscle. Brighid led off the third with a towering solo homer to right center.

Zieres continued her hot hitting with a single and run scored in the fourth.

“I like this team,” Grund said simply. “We have a nice mix of veterans and younger players. Once we develop a little bit of chemistry, I think we’ll be in really good shape.”

Stacy went on to say that the league appears to be well-balanced this summer.

Wayne County’s only women’s softball circuit once featured 22 teams. Now, there are only eight...but, each of those squads is fully capable of generating big numbers on any given night.

“It’s awesome to see this influx of new blood,” Stacy said with a big smile. “It’s kind of like the next generation is slowly moving in and taking over. I hope we keep attracting these good young players.”